I have been wanting to write a Favorite Baby Items post for such a long time, but babies change their mind so frequently that I feel like you can’t necessarily write a quality favorites post until you’re totally past infancy….And now, at very nearly 18 months old and entering 2015 I guess I have to finally admit that, yes, I have a toddler and not an infant anymore (gasp-SOB-sniff). But, seriously. I can finally share some of my favorite baby items that have really stood the test of time and you may even take me seriously. For once. Disclaimer: All of these opinions are my very own and I was sadly not given any of these products for free, but oh, how I wish I had been.

Fave Baby Toy: GloWorm

Photo Via Amazon

GloWorm was hands down the absolute KEY to my daughter taking successful naps starting around 6 months old. She would cry and cry when I left her to try to nap on her own and was just unable to selfsoothe during day time naps. Until GloWorm. I started turning GloWorm on when I left the room and it would magically soothe her. It was incredible!

Playskool GloWorm was simply hands down the best baby (and toddler) toy bought to date. You may remember GloWorm from the 1980’s. Yes! It’s the same GloWorm but with some awesome updates and modifications.

Updated GloWorm, as opposed to its original model, is small and easily huggable to a baby at only 10” tall. It has three settings, safely hidden in the back behind a zipper: Demo (which just plays light and music for a few seconds), and long play which allows GloWorm to light up and play soft classical music for 10 minutes before automatically shutting off, and just a light option too. The button to turn GloWorm on is on his tummy and is a moon shape so it’s very easy for kids to figure out quickly how he turns on.

But BEST feature of all, unlike Vintage GloWorm, the battery/light up pack easily pulls out of GloWorm (you can tie it inside to secure it more thoroughly when your child figures this out) and the outside GloWorm shell can be thrown into the washer AND dryer. Why don’t more toys do this? I bought GloWorm after hearing on sleep soothing sites it was a good idea. I waited far too long to give it to my daughter.

She fell asleep holding her GloWorm over her face and ears yet again

We still use GloWorm for naps at 1 ½ years old. In fact, we go through the batteries so much more quickly now because Story randomly wakes up and turns GloWorm on during the night and goes back to sleep. Often she sleeps with him ON her face or right next to her ear (as I was looking through my photos on my computer for a picture of this, she was in her room trying to nap and fell asleep with GloWorm literally on her face so I was able to snap a pic). But be warned- keep extra batteries on hand at all times! We were short on rechargeable AAs last month and hadn’t realized GloWorm’s batteries were low at bedtime. It’s the only time we put her to bed without him. She cried and cried until I grudgingly brought GloWorm in an hour after her bedtime with barely charged batteries.

Another great benefit of GloWorm? He’s so inexpensive ($12-15 on Amazon) that if you don’t want to travel with him, just mail an extra to your destination. We keep one at my Mom’s in Baltimore for visits to save that little extra weight. Also he comes in blue/green and pink/green.

Side note: Initially when looking for a device like GloWorm, I saw Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Glow Seahorse and was all set to order until I checked the trusty Amazon reviews. Holy crap. I don’t know how that toy is still on the market with the MANY customer complaints on Amazon and on other websites about how it has started SMOKING and CAUGHT FIRE in CRIBS. Nope. I don’t care how many other positive reviews there are- you don’t take that chance. There are zero complaints like this for GloWorm, and they should know- he’s been around since 1982. Go with the GloWorm.

Fave Teething/Fashion Item: Chewbeads

I purchased my Chewbeads at a local maternity shop when Story was about 2/3 months old. I picked the turquoise (my fave color) Perry style because I liked the alternation between the round and flat beads. While I absolutely wanted a teething toy for Story, my main reason for purchasing Chewbeads was that I really, really, really wanted to wear a necklace again.

Every new mom finds out very early that they will not be wearing delicate necklaces or dangly earrings for a long time. Babies love that stuff. Most will immediately pull and break necklaces, even at toddler ages. Statement necklaces are really in and since I wear a touch of aqua with just about every outfit I thought that color would be a great choice. I was thrilled to wear a necklace again! It went with so much that I wore. And I got lots of compliments…many from people who didn’t know it was a teething necklace! It was hilarious. Honestly, I’ve worn it out before without even having my daughter with me.

But as a teething necklace it worked great too. It gave her something immediately at her fingertips…or gums, I guess I should say. It was also especially handy when I would wear my baby carrier, which I wore a LOT. Instant teether, right there, easy access.

But here’s the really cool thing about my Chewbeads, which is what inspired me to write about them. Now, 18 months later, though I have given away or sold most of Story’s baby toys (or am in the process of doing so), I won’t part with the Chewbeads. Why? Because she still plays with them.

She doesn’t teeth on them anymore, not typically. But she loves them as a necklace. They were the first thing that she learned how to put ON and take OFF.

She literally wore them all day the day I wrote this blog post, even into the bath and we had to take them away from her before going to bed.

She loves picking them up and putting them on and wearing them around the house. And the best part is, they’re totally safe! They are food grade silicone so fine to chew on and to hold and touch and play with (no BPA! Yay!), but in addition to that they have a breakaway emergency clasp. If Story would get them caught on something the clasp pulls apart so there’s no risk of strangulation.

I won’t let her play with any of my necklaces, even as she becomes older because that risk can still happen. But I will let her play with my Chewbeads. And they also make Chewbeads Junior which are shorter for toddlers so if a little girl is a big sister she could have her own Chewbeads too. Chewbeads make excellent shower gifts too because they’re cute, colorful, practical, and there are so many Chewbeads colors and styles available that the chances of the new mom already having the exact color and style is unlikely. So for fashion and for teething, Chewbeads are a shoo in.

Baby Carrier: Beco Soleil

Our first month with the Soleil Story barely peeped over!

Picking a carrier is pretty tough decision when you have a baby. It’s even harder to decide before baby arrives! I really recommend trying out carriers when you can because every body and every baby is different. I was fortunate to be able to attend an awesome Babywearing 101 class at a local baby/maternity shop when we were still in Hawaii and tried a few styles including sling, wrap, and soft carrier.

I thought I would like the sling and hated it. I did end up getting a Moby style wrap and trying it in those early weeks after Story came but I never felt super confident wrapping it tightly and properly enough. When I did get it on tightly enough it didn’t feel supportive and safe to me. I couldn’t imagine being truly hands-free with it. I used it at the airport and the only benefit of it was that since it was all material, I was able to easily take it off easily during the flight. The downsides were that I got it super dirty trying to put it on at the airport before going through TSA (it was sweeping all over the airport ground…CRINGE). Also, I was super flustered by the time I got in line at TSA because of trying to frantically Youtube if I’d wrapped it properly. The wrap just wasn’t right for me.

At a fundraiser for our Birth Center hanging our in our Soleil

I got to try the Ergo and Beco brand soft carriers (the kind that have buckles and adjustments) at that Babywearing 101 class. Ergo was nice but after really doing research, it felt so SHORT! What I mean is that in pictures I’ve seen of moms wearing it with older kids, the kids look like they’re practically hanging out of it because the actual seat back is quite short. I decided to get Beco’s popular model at the time, the (now discontinued) Beco Butterfly II with an infant insert. And honestly, after the wrap I felt super intimidated looking at buckles. But once I finally sucked it up and tried it, I fell in love with it and couldn’t imagine how I lived without it. A good carrier can really calm a baby down instantly and help you retain your sanity. And I thought I had a good carrier, until I asked for Beco’s newest model the Soleil that Christmas and got it. Let me tell you, it is INCREDIBLE.

At the SC Aquarium in our Soleil

The Beco Soleil, is one of the tallest seated carriers on the market. I have a pretty long torso and am tall, as is my sister. Story will definitely be a tall girl like us. When we first got the Beco Soleil at 5 months old Story was just starting to peek over the top and it did take some getting used to. In retrospect, I probably could have gotten the infant insert because she was still such a lightweight. Instead since she was already 5 months old and I felt it would have been a waste to use for such a short period of time at that point, I rolled up a small baby blanket to boost her up a little higher for a month or two.

The Soleil is made to front carry, hip carry, or back carry, all with baby facing you. I’m not opposed to baby facing out if that’s your thing but I don’t feel like it would personally be very comfortable for me. It definitely throws off your weight and probably isn’t hot for your back so I’m very for the ergonomic effect of having baby sitting straddling and facing you. It just makes sense to me.

What’s awesome and really sets the Soleil apart thought is that, with front carrying, you can wear the straps normally looped over your shoulders, or you can cross them behind your back. I thought my previous carrier was fairly comfortable but after the crossed strap front carry I can't imagine using anything else. It’s super supportive of your back. I also really like the adjustments you can make to the front straps of the carrier and how you can roll the excess belts and straps up and out of the way.

The Soleil has grown so awesomely with us too! As Story has gotten older and taller Nick and I have both continued babywearing (toddlerwearing!) because it calms her down pretty much instantly in most situations. You can fit places that a stroller can’t, and Story never loved sitting by herself in the stroller to be honest. (When we do use a stroller, it’s typically somewhere we have to buy a lot of stuff like the farmers market and more than half the time we fill up the stroller and Story still gets worn.)

Meeting Cary Elwes (Princess Bride) at AwesomeCon in DC with Story napping in the Soleil

We’ve gone everywhere in the Soleil! To date, Story has flown 18 times and most of those have been with the Soleil. We’ve also been to the Aquarium, a book festival, a wedding, grocery stores, Oktoberfest, and two full, long days at AwesomeCon (a Comic Con style convention in DC) wearing the Soleil. All the while, Story has been able to nap on me, even while dancing at a wedding with loud music and even while meeting Cary Elwes at AwesomeCon (she’ll regret that someday). I’ve nursed discreetly in stores AND in lines at AwesomeCon while wearing the Soleil. And, not to get TMI but I can even use the bathroom while wearing her.

I’ve cooked and I’ve cleaned while wearing her. I’ve decorated the tree while wearing her. Now as she’s a toddler we go on walks almost daily together and I take it with me so that I can switch to it when she gets tired so her mama can get a nice stroll in.

At the airport in our Soleil

Now that Story is older I wear her on my back more increasingly too. And it’s even more comfortable than wearing her in front. It’s not always an option, like in winter when you have a ton of coats on it’s just easier to wear her in front and wrap her in my coat. Or if I’m traveling and already wearing a backpack. But for just running in stores it’s so easy and finally lets me see my feet again! I almost forget she is back there sometimes. In the beginning I needed someone to help put her on my back to back carry but now she knows how to climb on and stay on there as I pull up the carrier around her. I do always do it sitting down like in the car just to make sure though.

The Soleil has a terrific key loop and pocket on the waistband which is big enough for an iPhone and some tissues and lipbalm, and it comes with another larger zip pocket that snaps on to the front of the carrier under the hood and is really quite big. It’s my go-to place to keep my ID and tickets super handy when flying. Beco also sells a Carry All bag that I just finally ordered that attaches to the front snaps that the whole carrier can roll up into and be carried with a crossbody strap. I think this will be really ideal on our walks and at the airport since we alternate more with the carrier and walking.

On vacation at Lake Lure, NC walking the boardwalk in our Soleil

We’ve been using our Beco Soleil for over a year now and I couldn’t possibly recommend it more. It’s amazing. I’ve been stopped in so many random places and asked about it and am so happy to talk about the company and the carrier. The Soleil can hold up to a 45 lb child and now they’re coming out this year with a Beco Toddler that goes up to 65 lbs! I’m not saying I’m going to be carrying a 65lb child but what that means is that the seat is made even taller and larger, so when my long little lady outgrows her Soleil I’m pretty sure that will be the next step.

Side Note: Like the Chewbeads Junior, Beco also has a child version of their carriers for little kids and their baby dolls and I just cannot even stand how adorable that is. I’m thinking two year old birthday present for the kid. Also, Beco does another carrier that has a forward facing option called the Beco Gemini that I was THIS close to choosing over the Soleil, but ultimately I feel like the larger padded Soleil meets our needs best.

Fave Pacifier: Wubbanub

We waited until 6 weeks to try a paci with Story because GASP THE NIPPLE CONFUSION (is that even a real thing?) and she didn’t really get attached at first. But when she did, we have really only bought Wubbanubs. Here’s why they’re awesome.

Wubbanubs are Soothies pacifiers (one of the most popular silicone pacifiers on the market which is distributed at hospitals) attached to a tiny beanie stuffed animal. When the baby is sucking on the paci, the stuffed animal portion sits comfortably on their chest. It’s easy to grasp- it was the first thing Story learned how to grasp. They don’t fall out of their mouths or off their chests super easily. They come in all sorts of cute stuffed animals from ducks, to lambs, to special edition reindeer, to dragons. You name it.

But the best part about Wubbanubs is they are so darn hard to lose! You always see loose pacis in parking lots and in shopping centers. Any mom will tell you they probably have dozens of pacifiers lying around in couch cushions, under tables, under cribs, etc. Wubbanubs are bulky and don’t fall and roll. They’re obviously more expensive than a pacifier all by itself, typically $12-20 depending on the style you like but you only have to replace them if the pacifier starts wearing or breaking, which typically doesn’t happen for a few months after the kid gets teeth.

Fave Diaper Bag: Vera Bradley Make a Change Diaper Backpack

Image via Vera Bradley

Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with Vera Bradley and I truly own about 80% of everything they produced in the Tutti Frutti pattern. However, I didn’t love my first VB diaper bag. It was just a plain basic one with a changing pad that rolled up and stuck inside, and straps that went over my arm. Pretty basic.

What makes Vera Bradley’s Make a Change style different is that the changing pad unzips and rolls out easily from the front of the bag for a one handed change. Not only does this allow you to hold a kid in one hand while setting up for a quick change, but it also means that the changing pad doesn’t take up valuable space inside your diaper bag. Super critical. You need every cubic inch of that space for emergency Q-tips and alcohol pads and whatever else you probably think you need but will never use.

Image via Vera Bradley

The Make a Change comes in bag style and backpack style. Since I fly back to Baltimore to visit my family a lot, I read backpacks are better for flying. Ever lean over and have your bag come flying down off your arm, either falling off completely or possibly whacking your child on the head? Ever try loading a plane while carrying a pump, wearing a child, AND trying to avoid whacking people in first class as you make your way back to your seat? This is why a backpack diaper bag is the best.

I honestly got it for flying specifically and thought I’d switch to another one other times but it’s just so plain practical and easier to wear/carry that it’s my exclusive bag. In fact, I started with the Make a Change Backpack in the Olivia Pink pattern, tired of it, sold it on eBay and ordered the same style bag in my beloved Tutti Frutti pattern.

Image via Vera Bradley

In addition to the convenience of the rollout changing pad and backpack style, the entire inside is lined with a PVC type material coating over the design so it wipes clean easily and it has a ton of pockets inside and side pockets large enough to hold water bottles on either side. And because the changing pad can be unsnapped and pulled out to clean, it can easily be removed and the backpack can be used as a regular backpack later. It has the same dimensions as Vera Bradley’s Campus Backpack but with the addition of easy wipe material inside. I’m sure a backpack will still be quite handy as toddlers gets older. Or resell it on eBay later.

Side Note: If you’re not a huge fan of Vera Bradley crazy color patterns, I get it. You are the exact reason they also make a solid black backpack and bag version.

Other Fave Baby Items & Brands:

Aden & Anais

Story's A&A Dream Blanket is super soft and light!

Really anything and everything from this company. They make super soft light muslin products and the muslin just gets softer and softer each time it’s washed. I especially love their Dream Blanket, muslin swaddle blankets, bamboo swaddle blankets, crib sheets, and their muslin sleepsacks. They even make adult size DayDream Blankets for parents who fall in love with their kids’ A&A stuff…I’m not saying this is on my Amazon wishlist but it’s totally on my Amazon wishlist.

Oxo Tot

In her Oxo Tot Sprout Chair with an Oxo Tot bib, flatware, and drinking cup

I’ve loved just about everything in the OxoTot line. We have and LOVE the OxoTot Sprout highchair which I’m still extremely happy with one year later. It grows with baby until about 5 years old and Oxo’s customer service is awesome so I expect to be using it for some time. Plus it looks nice/not childish and is BPA/phthalate/badstuff free.

OxoTot bibs are also hands down THE BEST BIBS EVER. They have a great BPA free silicone pocket at the bottom to catch food, but the top is a soft fabric so it’s not hard and stiff against baby’s neck like other brands. Also, they wipe clean easily and roll up into themselves for easy toting.

Oxo Tot bib and cup

I also love OxoTot Drink Cups. I tried and wanted to love the Lollacup but it just doesn’t hold up. OxoTot’s drink cups come in 2 sizes, 7 oz and 11 oz and also come with options of removable handles, and interchangeable straw cap, sippy cap, and even training cap with little holes around the top to allow toddlers to learn how to drink out of a cup without too much spillage. Story never got into a sippy top but learned how to use a straw very early so we interchange the straw cap and handles with both sizes. Plus they don’t leak AT ALL in your purse.

Munchkin Waterproof Changing Pad Liners

Image Via Amazon

I actually wasn’t reading descriptions very well when I added these to registry and thought they were a waterproof changing pad full cover that I could putunderneath a pretty decorative cover to make sure the actual changing pad didn’t get wet in case of accidents.

Actually Munchkin Waterproof Changing Pad Liners come in a 3 pack of small round pad liners that are meant to lay OVER TOP OF a decorative changing pad cover but still show off your pretty changing pad cover while protecting it. And actually that worked much better.

As someone who really cares about natural products I hated getting something “waterproof” because of the chemicals used in waterproof type fabrics. But with a changing pad, you don’t want to spend good money on cute Etsy changing pad covers (I recommend having at least two covers) then have them ruined by an explosive diaper. I ended up ordering 2 more 3 packs of these liners (we own 9 liners in total) in the first few weeks because these liners caught a lot of…accidents.But with every accident, my pretty decorative changing pad covers were saved and I was easily able to switch these liners out for a new one and quickly as they literally just rest on top. They’re easy to wash, though they are recommended to be air dried but won’t fall apart if you forget and they make it through the dryer once or twice. Plus they’re great for traveling because you can fold a few of them up easily to pack and use them on beds and floors when staying away from home.

There are so many more things I really loved...

But I feel like all these things previously listed were the longest lasting and most loved/used by me, Nick, and by Story. Also, I'm sure I forgot a couple of things (DAMN YOU, BANANA TOOTHBRUSHES!) but this post is already too long. Maybe I'll do a followup for other items I'm remembering now. Because I love books so much (enough to name a child Story) I'm going to do a separate post for baby books.

Seriously though- there are so many things that are marketed toward new moms and I was totally ordering ALL OF THE THINGS every time I thought something would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for something super specific but so many things are really a waste of time or are cute for five minutes and just don’t have longevity in an infant mind.

Just remember, every baby (and parent) is different. What works for us might not work for you. But if you know me and ever wondered what I really love and recommend, I hope this might help you! Thanks for reading!